chapter one

Clara raised her hands above her shoulders, her hips swayed to the music.

She hummed along as a song from her favorite playlist played loudly.

She hadn't felt like this in a long time. it almost felt like her chest would explode.

She could only think of one word: freedom.

Today was the start of a new life for her.

Her eyes drifted to the file she had left on her desk the night before and she began to sing the lyrics loudly, bouncing up and down.

Her voice echoed off the walls of her enormous room and sunlight spread across half the room, filtering through the

floor-to-ceiling window.

She glided across the room and into her

walk-in-closet, back to humming as she picked out a white shirt and her favorite jeans.

She put them on and pulled her hair into a messy bun.

She lowered herself onto the seat in front of her mirror and put on some mascara and lipstick.

She glanced at the mirror one time before picking up her purse, the file and leaving the room.

She slammed the door behind her and raced down the stairs.

Her Uber was already waiting outside Alexander Ford's private residence.

She estimated she'd be at his office in about twenty minutes.

She got into the back seat and peered out the car window, watching as the city buzzed around her.

Alexander Ford's office occupied the forty-fifth floor of Blackwell in Midtown Manhattan.

The last time she had been here, it was to sign the contract. The place had barely changed in three years.

The elevator doors opened on the forty-fifth floor.

Clara stepped out, her purse flung across her shoulders, the file held firmly in her hand.

The reception area looked exactly as she remembered it.

The dark marble floor stretched beneath her feet, the breathtaking view of Manhattan displayed by the floor-to-ceiling window lined on one side of the office.

She walked past the reception desk , offering the receptionist a polite smile.

"I'm here to see Mr Ford"

The woman glanced at the file in her hands and then back at her.

"Is he expecting you?"

"No."

Clara smiled.

Before she could respond, Clara turned towards the large double doors at the end of the hallway.

She pushed the door open.

Alexander Ford sat behind his enormous desk, his eyes fixed on the documents in front of him, he did not look up.

"Uh...humm."she pretended to clear her throat.

Alexander's eyes moved from the documents and settled on her. He placed them down slowly.

"Sit down." His voice was low and even.

He leaned back in his seat, adjusting his cuffs.

In all three years she had been married to this man, this was the first time she had come to his office as his wife, and she would be leaving as his ex.

Clara took the seat across and placed the file on his desk.

His eyes moved across her face and landed on the file in front of her.

"I'm sure you know what yesterday was"

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Clara shifted in her seat, looking down at the file in front of her.

"The contract expired yesterday," she muttered.

"Speak clearly," he said firmly.

Clara took a deep breath and straightened her posture.

"These are divorce papers."

He reached across the table and picked them up, placing them above the documents he had been attending to.

"And?" He raised an eyebrow, his eyes locked on hers.

Clara's eyebrows furrowed.

She tried to read his expression, but he wore his usual grim look.

"And I need you to sign them," she stated.

He took the papers out and began flipping through.

Clara bit her lips, her eyes fixed on the pen beside him, waiting for him to pick them up.

"No" he said.

"No?" She dragged the papers out of his hands, flipping through them.

Her eyes quickly going over the files, looking for something he might have seen.

She was certain there weren't any discouraging clauses, she didn't ask for money.

He had already paid her as he had promised when she signed the contract.

She threw the files on the desk pushing his neatly arranged pens out of place.

"What do you mean no?" Her voice was loud.

Alexander picked up the file and put his pens back in their place.

"This is an office, Clara." His voice remained steady.

Clara rubbed the space between her eyes.

"Why won't you sign it?

"Because I don't want to," he placed the files beside him and picked up the documents he had been working on. His eyes left her and he went back to the position she had found him in.

Clara could feel her blood pressure rise, her breath quickened and she glared at him.

She considered smashing his head across his table.

She took a deep breath and hit the table to get his attention.

He narrowed his eyes and she responded by pointing her fingers at him.

"I will take you to court." She threatened, her face had turned red.

"Go ahead, it's going to end with an extra two years of marriage." He held her eyes and she looked away first.

He was right, what chances did she have against Alexander Ford.

There was probably a sketchy clause in their marriage contract that his lawyers would use against her.

"You will sign these papers," she stated.

He said nothing and just went back to work.

Clara almost screamed.

Just then, his personal assistant Oliver pushed the door open.

They both turned toward him in his rounded glass and disheveled hair.

"Mrs Ford, I'm sorry but—"

"Don't call me that!" she yelled, turning around and storming out of the office.

Leaving the divorce papers behind on Alexander's desk.

Oliver glanced at his boss, who watched as his wife stormed out of the office.

"There's an important call for you sir" he said.

Alexander nodded and motioned for him to leave the room.

Outside, Clara threw daggers at the secretary as she made her way to the elevators.

She needed a drink and she needed her best friend.